Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2494
2008-09-10 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
SENIOR MOFA OFFICIAL DOWN ON DPJ PRESIDENT OZAWA
how-toVZCZCXRO9253 PP RUEHPW DE RUEHKO #2494 2540811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 100811Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7149 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEHKO/USDAO TOKYO JA RHMFISS/USFJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002494
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA/SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; PACOM FOR
J00/J01/J5; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5; NSC FOR WILDER/KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR JA
SUBJECT: SENIOR MOFA OFFICIAL DOWN ON DPJ PRESIDENT OZAWA
Classified By: James P. Zumwalt, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.; Reasons: 1.4
(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002494
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA/SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; PACOM FOR
J00/J01/J5; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5; NSC FOR WILDER/KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR JA
SUBJECT: SENIOR MOFA OFFICIAL DOWN ON DPJ PRESIDENT OZAWA
Classified By: James P. Zumwalt, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.; Reasons: 1.4
(b/d)
1. (C) In a September 9 dinner with the Charge, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North American Bureau Director General
Shinichi Nishimiya gave an overwhelmingly negative assessment
of the immediate future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in the
event opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President
Ichiro Ozawa were to become Prime Minister. Nishimiya stated
his personal view that the Alliance will suffer in general
under an Ozawa-led government, particularly with respect to
host nation support (HNS),the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),and Japan's refueling operations in the
Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
According to Nishimiya, Ozawa has been planning for some time
to re-engineer HNS and to seek revision of the SOFA.
Furthermore, if in control of the government, Ozawa would
likely prevent the introduction of a bill to extend Japan's
contributions to OEF.
2. (C) Nishimiya added that, to cement his control of the
government, Ozawa will attempt to "break" the bureaucracy by
instituting a requirement for all DGs in Japanese government
ministries and agencies to tender their resignation with the
change in government. This "loyalty test" will allow Ozawa
to plant his loyalists from among senior career bureaucrats
in places where he wants to exercise the greatest amount of
control on policy issues. Nishimiya cautioned that EMBASSY
and visiting U.S. officials should pay no heed to "feel-good"
messages from moderate, pro-Alliance DPJ lawmakers such as
Rep. Seiji Maehara because they will not be in positions of
influence if the opposition defeats the ruling coalition in
the upcoming general elections.
3. (C) COMMENT: Party supporters of Ozawa, including DPJ
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Rep. Keiichiro Asao,
have also been vocal critics of the perceived inequities of
HNS and the popular misperception that Japan is disadvantaged
in terms of judicial process in crimes involving members of
the U.S. military. Nevertheless, it is too early to tell how
the DPJ's foreign and security policy position will evolve if
it wrests power from the ruling coalition or whether Ozawa
would even assume the position of Prime Minister. END
COMMENT.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA/SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; PACOM FOR
J00/J01/J5; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5; NSC FOR WILDER/KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR JA
SUBJECT: SENIOR MOFA OFFICIAL DOWN ON DPJ PRESIDENT OZAWA
Classified By: James P. Zumwalt, Charge d'Affaires, a.i.; Reasons: 1.4
(b/d)
1. (C) In a September 9 dinner with the Charge, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North American Bureau Director General
Shinichi Nishimiya gave an overwhelmingly negative assessment
of the immediate future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in the
event opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President
Ichiro Ozawa were to become Prime Minister. Nishimiya stated
his personal view that the Alliance will suffer in general
under an Ozawa-led government, particularly with respect to
host nation support (HNS),the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),and Japan's refueling operations in the
Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
According to Nishimiya, Ozawa has been planning for some time
to re-engineer HNS and to seek revision of the SOFA.
Furthermore, if in control of the government, Ozawa would
likely prevent the introduction of a bill to extend Japan's
contributions to OEF.
2. (C) Nishimiya added that, to cement his control of the
government, Ozawa will attempt to "break" the bureaucracy by
instituting a requirement for all DGs in Japanese government
ministries and agencies to tender their resignation with the
change in government. This "loyalty test" will allow Ozawa
to plant his loyalists from among senior career bureaucrats
in places where he wants to exercise the greatest amount of
control on policy issues. Nishimiya cautioned that EMBASSY
and visiting U.S. officials should pay no heed to "feel-good"
messages from moderate, pro-Alliance DPJ lawmakers such as
Rep. Seiji Maehara because they will not be in positions of
influence if the opposition defeats the ruling coalition in
the upcoming general elections.
3. (C) COMMENT: Party supporters of Ozawa, including DPJ
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Rep. Keiichiro Asao,
have also been vocal critics of the perceived inequities of
HNS and the popular misperception that Japan is disadvantaged
in terms of judicial process in crimes involving members of
the U.S. military. Nevertheless, it is too early to tell how
the DPJ's foreign and security policy position will evolve if
it wrests power from the ruling coalition or whether Ozawa
would even assume the position of Prime Minister. END
COMMENT.
ZUMWALT